Tag Archive for: climatechange

Instant milk chillers powered by solar panels are helping pastoralists in India's Thar Desert to keep their dairy fresh as temperatures rise.

Indian camel herders cash in with solar-powered coolers

The sun used to be a source of trouble for Indian camel herder Bhanwar Raika – but these days it is boosting his income, even as climate change brings ever hotter temperatures.

The pastoralist makes a living selling his herd’s milk but temperatures as high as 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit) regularly used to spoil it before he could sell it to the local dairy, about 80km from his home in western India’s Thar Desert.

But the 55-year-old’s fortunes changed last February when a solar-powered refrigeration system – called an instant milk chiller – was installed 2km away from Raika’s Nokh village in Rajasthan state.

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Source: Eco-Business

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The Square D Energy Center smart panel from Schneider Electric offers flexible control over solar arrays and battery storage.

As solar + storage ready becomes a title 24 mandate, smart technology helps flatten the complexity curve

If you’re a builder or electrician living in California, you’re probably already thinking about how to meet the State’s latest leap toward net zero: mandated solar and storage in every new house.

As part of the 2022 Energy Code, California has enacted a solar + storage ready mandate. Why? The answer is multi-faceted. The State lies on the front lines of climate change, with worsening wildfires, drought, power outages, and maxed-out energy demands.

California has had a solar PV mandate since 2019, and just passed another mandate phasing out gas-powered cars by 2035. Compared to most states, they’re taking the fast track to phasing out CO2.

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Source: Clean Technica

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The move to make 100% renewable the default service is a powerful decision that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

California CCA makes 100% renewable energy the default for members

MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy has become the default electricity service in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa and Solano counties. Homes and businesses starting new electric service will automatically start with 100% renewable energy, with the freedom to choose from several other options from MCE or PG&E.

The move to make 100% renewable the default service is a powerful decision that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since its launch in 2010, MCE has a track record of at least doubling the renewable energy offered by PG&E — increasing its default energy service from 28% in 2010 to 100% in 2023.

More than 100,000 new electric accounts are expected to start 100% renewable service in 2023, reducing more than 1,600 metric tons of greenhouse gasses each year. That is equivalent to more than 4 million miles driven in a gas-powered passenger vehicle.

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Source: Solar Power World

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Emerging research suggests growing tomato plants below and between solar panels could help the country’s billion-dollar-plus tomato industry, especially in places where it faces increasing stress from heat and drought.

Agrovoltaics could help California crops, if the economics pan out

Drought and extreme heat in California’s Central Valley in recent years has meant shortages of tomatoes, particularly “processing tomatoes” used for sauce and ketchup. And such conditions are only expected to get worse with climate change.

Researchers note that the relatively nascent field of agrovoltaics — growing crops below and between solar panels — could offer help to the country’s billion-dollar-plus tomato industry.

Shade provided by solar panels can help conserve water, create humidity, and lower temperatures that can become too much even for heat-loving tomatoes.

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Source: Energy News Network

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Covering canals with solar panels would reduce evaporation, avoid using other land for solar farms and reduce aquatic weed and algae growth

California to cover canals with solar panels in experiment to fight drought, climate change

California is about to launch an experiment to cover aqueducts with solar panels, a plan that if scaled up might save billions of gallons of otherwise evaporated water while powering millions of homes.

Project Nexus in the Turlock Irrigation District launches in mid-October amid Western North America’s worst drought in 1,200 years and as human-influenced climate change exacerbates the dry spell.

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Source: Reuters

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SJCE's program offers more than 800 customers 100% solar energy at a 20% discount, which can be combined with other monthly discounts.

San José Clean Energy’s community solar program saving some low-income customers $100 per month

San José Clean Energy (SJCE) has released details of the success of its first community solar program. The program offers more than 800 customers 100% solar energy at a 20% discount, which can be combined with other monthly discounts for up to 55% savings. The average Solar Access customer is saving $32 per bill and some save over $100 each month.

The new program enables customers who rent their home, cannot afford to install solar or whose home is not suitable for solar to benefit from utility scale clean energy at a discount. SJCE sources the solar energy for customers and there is no solar panel installation or equipment required. Eligible customers can apply to be added to the program’s waitlist and as spots become available; customers will be enrolled on a first come, first served basis. Applications are accepted online, by mail or by phone at 833-432-2454.

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Source: Solar Power World

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President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed into law a $430 billion bill that is seen as the biggest climate package in US history

Biden signs inflation act, hands pen to Manchin

President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed into law a $430 billion bill that is seen as the biggest climate package in U.S. history, designed to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions as well as lower prescription drug prices and high inflation.

At a White House event, Biden was joined by Democratic leaders including Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, whose support was crucial to passage of the Inflation Reduction Act along party lines, after he blockaded much larger measures pushed by the White House.

“Joe, we never had a doubt,” Biden said of Manchin. Biden later handed Manchin the pen he used to sign the legislation.

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Source: Reuters

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Starting in January, most new commercial construction in California will be required to install some solar generation and battery storage.

New California building codes include climate change mandates

Starting in January, most new commercial construction in California will be required to install some solar generation and battery storage, along with heat pump technology, as the state moves toward its zero-carbon goals.

The new 2022 building standards mandate, approved by the California Energy Commission, adds to the renewable solar mandate that went into effect in January 2020 for all new single-family residential construction.

“Solar as a standard feature on all new homes went pretty smooth,” said Bob Raymer, technical director with the California Building Industry Association in Sacramento.

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Source: Biz Journals

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The microgrid system will launch in September in Silver Spring, powering electric buses on Montgomery County’s Ride On system
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Electric buses to tap solar power using new method for D.C. region

The first microgrid to power electric buses will soon make its debut in the Washington region as transit agencies nationwide increasingly look to the sun — rather than diesel — to fuel their fleets.

The system will launch in September, powering a growing number of electric buses on Montgomery County’s Ride On transit system. The Silver Spring facility will be the first in the D.C. area to use the microgrid technology and one of the earliest of its kind nationwide.

The microgrid will use energy that originates from solar panels at a bus depot rather than the traditional electricity grid — the process used by most transit agencies with electric buses. The transition comes as jurisdictions across the country are looking to electrify their bus fleets to battle climate change and amid financial windfalls from last year’s infrastructure law, which includes $109 billion for transit.

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Source: Washington Post

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Gov. Newsom’s clean air regulators prioritize rooftop solar expansion in California climate action plan

SAN FRANCISCO – California’s top clean air regulators this week released a proposed plan to fight the climate crisis by cutting carbon dioxide emissions, with policy priorities including an effort to expand rooftop solar throughout the state.

The 11-point “Strategies for Achieving Success” draft plan responds to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, to identify strategies for eventually making the state carbon neutral. On page 164 of the plan, CARB says:

  • Target programs and incentives to support and improve access to renewable and zero-carbon energy projects (e.g., rooftop solar, community solar, battery storage, and microgrids) for communities most at need, including frontline, low-income, rural, and indigenous communities.

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Source: EWG

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